Posted by natalienoa.
Jan
2
Posted by natalienoa.
2009 in Pictures, or Following Through on My Resolution to Be Shamelessly Narcissistic
Normally this is the kind of entry that I would think about doing and never actually sit down and create. But with Clayton’s certification exam getting nauseatingly close and our move-in with my parents complete, I’ve found myself with quite a bit of free time on my hands. So, please enjoy a little snippet of those things that made up my 2009.
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- Clayton and I finally cashed in the gift certificates for Dinner Done, where you prepare meals in advance and take them home. I just like that there is one picture out in the world that makes it seem like 1) I know how to cook and 2) I enjoy doing it. Both of which are utterly erroneous statements.
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- In February, our family grew to three and our lives evolved into a delirium of potty breaks and puppy kisses. Read about Bryson Noa’s adoption here: http://natalienoa.com/?p=202
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- In March, Clayton turned a quarter of a century old. I surprised him with a post-dinner gathering of friends at P.F. Chang’s. This is Mark and Leah, who could possibly be in every picture from 2009. Because we like them that much.
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- Ok, I have no idea if this picture was taken in April, but I do know that we moved out of our cat and raccoon-infested first apartment into a glorious, lakefront townhouse in April. And also, Bryson grew some more. And then some more. And then just a little bit more.
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- In May, Clayton and I celebrated our first anniversary in St. Augustine. I would describe our first year as being a lot like that carousel; sure, it seemed like much of the same sometimes (Clayton studying, me watching Gilmore Girls). But somehow, it was all still fun, it all seemed exciting. Every mundane twist and turn felt like something incredibly special.
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- For about a week in June, this school project (because, you know, I decided to go back to school and completely change the course of my life) was the bane of my existence. Not only because it involved Legos and it just so happens that I’m not a 7 year old boy, but because it was a dreaded group project. Which always ends up being code for the quiet, studious one having to do all the grunt work. In this case, the grunt work was writing a manual for assembling this groundbreaking Lego structure our group came up with. Yeah, it’s an outhouse. Welcome to undergrad (again).
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- In July, I got my nose pierced. I wish I had a good story about how it happened, one with lots of shots of an expensive vodka and a double dog dare from a complete stranger. Instead, on an insignificant Tuesday I thought, “I think I’ll get my nose pierced.” And then Wednesday, I got my nose pierced.
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- In August, I had my twenty-fifth birthday. Clayton proved just how selfless he can be by buying me the Twilight dvd. He also got me Euphoria by Calvin Klein. And while pasty, brawny Edward Cullen does make me quite euphoric, he would have done better if Calvin Klein made a “I will seriously threaten your entire family with heinous acts of torture if you tell anyone that this is what you bought me for my 25th birthday and also that I peed a little when I opened it” scent.
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- My sister-in-law and canine nephew, Duke, came to visit in September. This is the ONLY second Bryson rested the entire weekend. Every other second involved Bryson’s tongue and Duke’s anus.
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- In October, Clayton went to his first interview for a job as a Physician Assistant in Rome, Georgia. Little charmer that he is, he was offered the position, and we knew that no matter that happened after that, we wouldn’t starve to death. But we did worry that we might get bored to death in Rome, GA. We were also able to visit Clayton’s two sisters that weekend, which happened to be Halloween. Not my most favorite Halloween experience, but we did get to don some half-ass pirate costumes.
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- In November, Clayton had his second interview. We visited Newport News, Virginia for the weekend, and by the time this picture was taken, Clayton had already received his second job offer. And we had very nearly fallen in love with the idea of moving to Virginia. Oh, and I popped a Valium or three for the first time.
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- In December, I became the inexpressibly proud wife of a graduate of Physician Assistant school. Before that, Clayton put his John Hancock on a very shiny, very intimidating, very promising contract for the job in Virginia. And so I’m looking not only at the end of a year or a decade, I’m bracing for the end of a chapter that began 25 years ago and grasping with all hope into a future I can’t even begin to predict or envision, a dream realized, an adventure that I wouldn’t dare attempt without that guy in the cap and gown.
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Pretty Amazing year! What’s also amazing is the picture above of Bryson next to that insanely huge dog food bag. At the time, he is bigger than the bag…oh but now, that’s about how much he eats in a day.